Blues news: Guitarist Laurence Jones announced support acts for upcoming UK Tour

Photo courtesy of Connor McLeod

 Today, Liverpool's very own Blues guitarist Laurence Jones will announce a headline UK Tour which sees AGMP working with MVT Cohorts (Music Venues Trust) to bring him to some of the finest independent music venues across the UK. He has announced that he will be supported by Irish trio Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra, UK award-winning singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Killner, guitarist/performing/recording artist and music educator Danny Giles and Devon UK-based modern rock band Firekind. Jones announces his supporting cast to an eager fanbase, as he continues his tour across England, Wales and Scotland.

The tour kicked off on Thursday 9th January 2025 at Colchester Arts Centre with Danny Giles supporting followed by Miguel Montalban & The Southern Vultures opening proceedings on Friday 10th January 2025 as part of January Blues Festival 2025 at 229 London.

The tour continues and will see Laurence travel extensively around the country including two nights in Wales, four nights across Scotland and shows throughout England including Leeds and Manchester.

"AGMP are delighted to be working with the Music Venues Trust in bringing the 2025 Tour of the incredible guitarist Laurence Jones to some of the finest grass-roots, independent music venues across the UK. It is part of AGMP's DNA to work with venues that have been the "birthplace" of some of the biggest music stars in the world and it's brilliant to be able to join forces with our industry champion, the MVT"

"We are thrilled to partner with AGMP to bring the acclaimed artist, Laurence Jones, to some of our member venues across the UK. Reaching audiences in new towns and cities, not just the major ones, is crucial for the vitality of local music communities. Bringing high-calibre artists to these areas not only enriches the cultural fabric of these communities but also provides a platform for local talent to thrive and grow. This tour is a significant step in ensuring that vibrant musical experiences are accessible to all." Tom Maddicott - Music Venues Trust

“It’s a huge honour to be a part of the MVT campaign supporting grassroots venues. I have built my career playing in the clubs over the last decade and I’m very excited to be involved with the Music Venues Trust & AGMP Concerts to bring you this special tour. Along with the new tour new music is coming so please stay tuned, I’m excited for the future… see you next year.

Please support live music and get your tickets in advance. Much love”. LJ

MVT Cohorts, organised by Music Venue Trust, is a new initiative to prevent the shrinking tour circuit. Increased costs of touring, including fuel, accommodation and transport, and uncertainty about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on ticket sales, are forcing artists, agents and managers to reduce the financial risks associated with playing extensive nationwide tours. As a result, tours are focusing on major cities and missing out on Grassroots Music Venues in hundreds of towns, rural areas and smaller cities across the country; established grassroots venues are no longer being offered to touring artists; music fans are no longer able to see their favourite artists, or discover new ones, without travelling to the major cities.

The MVT Cohorts project will underwrite the costs of the shows, ensuring that both the artists and venues receive a guaranteed fee. This will remove the financial uncertainty that comes with extending tours in the UK, thereby allowing the artists to diversify their tours and play outside the major cities and the venues to programme diverse and varied gigs.

For future tours MVT will organise Grassroots Music Venues into ‘Cohorts’ - networks of venues each with its own distinctive identity, facility or approach but all share a common theme and goal to support touring artists and development. A ‘Cohort’ might denote a group of venues that specialise in certain musical genres, reflect venues with a unique production style, such as seated atmospheric or small capacity, or have specific audience demographics that are underserved. Each ‘Cohort’ will form a preset and agreed touring opportunity in which artists,

agents, managers and promoters can tap into to support tours reaching those areas currently being left behind, helping to prioritise places and communities most in need of cultural investment.

Please find further information below. Tickets are on sale now on https://www.laurencejonesmusic.com/

The January – May 2025 UK Headline Tour will visit the following locations:

January 2025

Thursday 23rd January 2025 – The Apex, Charter Square St, Bury Saint Edmunds, IP33 3FD (PCRO)

Friday 24th January 2025 – The Station, Stafford Road, Cannock, WS11 1WS (TK)

Saturday 25th January 2025 – Ropetackle Arts Centre, Little High St, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5EG (DG)

Friday 31st January 2025 – Old Bakery Studios, Blewetts Wharf, Malpas Rd, Truro, TR1 1QH (DG)

February 2025

Saturday 1st February 2025 – The Treehouse, 35 Berkley Rd, Frome, BA11 2EH (DG)

Thursday 6th February 2025 – Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre, 18-22 Rainhall Rd, Barnoldswick, BB18 5AF

Friday 7th February 2025 - Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre, 18-22 Rainhall Rd, Barnoldswick, BB18 5AF

Saturday 8th February 2025 – Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, 83 85 Town St, Leeds, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ (PCRO)

Friday 14th February 2025 – Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA (TK)

Saturday 15th February 2025 – Audio, 14 Midland St, Glasgow, G1 4PP (TK)

Friday 21st February 2025 – The Piper, 1 Norman Rd, Saint Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 6NH (TK)

Saturday 22nd February 2025 – Waterfront Studio, 139-141 King St, Norwich, NR1 1QH (TK)

Friday 28th February 2025 – PJ Molloys, 7 Canmore St, Dunfermline, KY12 7NU (TK)

March 2025

Saturday 1st March 2025 – Tunnels, Carnegie's Brae, Aberdeen AB10 1BF (TK)

Thursday 6th March 2025 – Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St, Exeter, EX4 3LS (FK)

Friday 7th March 2025 – FAC251, 112-118 Princess St, Manchester, M1 7EN (PCRO)

Saturday 8th March 2025 – Futureyard, 75 Argyle St, Birkenhead, CH41 6AB (PCRO)

Wednesday 12th March 2025 – The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Rd, Chislehurst, BR7 6HF (DG)

Friday 14th March 2025 – (Non-MVT Venue) The Old Brewery Store, Mill Pl, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7DY (DG)

Saturday 15th March 2025 – Fiery Bird, 32 Goldsworth Rd, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6JT (DG)

Friday 21st March 2025 – Selby Town Hall, York St, Selby, YO8 4AJ (DG)

April 2025

Thursday 3rd April 2025 – Sunbird Records, 4 The Circus, Darwen, BB3 1BS (TK)

Friday 4th April 2025 – (Non-MVT Venue) East Riding Theatre, 10 Lord Roberts Rd, Beverley, HU17 9BE (DG)

Saturday 5th April 2025 – The Drill, Free School Ln, Lincoln, LN2 1EY (DG)

Friday 11th April 2025 – Pontardawe Arts Centre, Herbert St, Pontardawe, Swansea, SA8 4ED (DG)

Saturday 12th April 2025 – Acapela Studios, Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff, CF15 9QD (DG)

May 2025

Friday 23rd May 2025 – Exchange Bristol, 72 - 73 Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0EJ

Thursday 29th May 2025 – The Stables, Stockwell Ln, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU (DG)

Friday 30th May 2025 – The Booking Hall, Old Harbour Station, Elizabeth St, Dover, CT17 9FE (DG)